A cost benefit analysis of three gillnet fisheries in Santa Catarina, Brazil: contributing to fisheries management decisions

Abstract

ABSTRACT. This cost-benefit analysis of three industrial bottom gillnet fisheries that operated in SE/S Brazil during 2009, had a double purpose: to determine the economic and financial performance of the average gillnet vessel in the coastal whitemouth croaker (Micropogonias furnieri), the gulf hake (Urophycis mystacea) and monkfish (Lophius gastrophysus) fisheries and to determine the expected effects of applying fishing gear regulation (MPA/MMA Nº12/2012) on the performance of the whitemouth croaker fishing fleet. Crucial to this cost-benefit analysis was to collect data through interviews to vessel owners on these fishing fleets cost structures and their fishing costs levels. Three economic and financial performance indicators were used to assess the condition of these fishing fleets: Net Present Value (NPV), Internal Rate of Return (IRR) and Profitability Index (PI). Results showed different costs levels between fishing fleets but, similar relative importance of cost components across fleets: with running costs being the highest, followed by vessel and labor costs in order of importance, except in the gulf hake fishing fleet. Results from the economic and financial performance assessment showed that these three fishing fleets were in a fragile economic and financial condition, all having IRRs lower that 20% and PIs of 1.7 or lower, too low for a high risk activity like fisheries. This problem been more acute in the whitemouth croaker fishing fleet with the lowest IRR (12.11%) and PI (1.2). Potential effects of applying the fishing regulation showed marginal improvements in the fragile condition of the whitemouth croaker fishing fleet. Keywords: economic and financial analyses, cost structure, bottom gillnet fishery, fisheries management, southern Brazil.Análisis costo-beneficio de tres pesquerías de enmalle en Santa Catarina, Brasil: contribuyendo a las decisiones de manejo pesquero RESUMEN. El análisis de costo-beneficio de las tres pesquerías industriales de enmalle de fondo que operaron en el SE/S Brasil durante 2009 tuvo un doble propósito: determinar el desempeño económico y financiero de una embarcación promedio que opera con enmalle en las pesquerías de corvina (Micropogonias furnieri), brótula (Urophycis mystacea) y rape (Lophius gastrophysus) y establecer los efectos que se pueden esperar al aplicar la regulación al arte de pesca (MPA/MMA Nº12/2012) en el desempeño de la flota que pesca la corvina. Crucial para este análisis de costo-beneficio fue la recolección de información mediante entrevistas a dueños de embarcaciones sobre las estructuras y los niveles de costos en la pesca. Tres indicadores de desempeño económico y financiero fueron utilizados para evaluar la condición en que se encuentran estas flotas pesqueras: Valor Presente Neto (VPN), Tasa Interna de Retorno (TIR) e Índice de Rentabilidad (IR). Los resultados mostraron diferentes niveles de costos entre las flotas pesqueras. Sin embargo, presentan similar importancia relativa los componentes de costos entre flotas: los costos corrientes...